Door check and tightener



Dec". 17, 1929. R. c. BROADSTONE nobn CHECK AND TIGHTENER Filed Aug. 18. 1928 Patented Dec. 17, 1929 a a law were P AENT FFlt'ZE RAYMOND C. BRGADSTONE, 0F DAYTGIT, OHIO DOOR CHECK AND TIGHTENER My invention relates to door checks, and tighteners and more particularly to an auto matic governor 'device for controlling the movement of the stop and tightener element, and to an extension upon the stop which FitlWQS to cushion the linal lllOYliit it of the door, and which is automatically witndrawn as the door approaches the limit of its move ment.

The present invention is applied to a populartype of door check and tightoner which embodies a substantially Cshaped oscillator, one arm of which projects into the path of movement of the door toward closed positions, and when en o'aged thereby. is oscillated to withdraw such arm from the path of the door and to project the opposite arm of such ll-shaped oscillator against the opposite side of the door under spring influence to effect a final closing pressure, such l3- shaped oscillator is actuated by a spring which serves to move and hold the oscillator first at one limit of its stroke and then at the other, and such oscillator is moved. to and fro past dead center relation with its actuating spring by the engagement of the swinging door therewith. Such spring actuated door check and tightener per se forms no pin-tot the present intention. Such devices as ordinarily constructed possess a snap-over action due to the reaction of the spring, and are consequently more or less noisy, and possess a tendency to eil'ect a slamming action of the door. The present invention pertains to governor means for controlling the movement of such oscillator under spring influence. whereby it will be retarded and the further provision of a trailing extension upon the stop which is with 'drawn from the path of movement of the door only as it makes its final adjustment.

The object of the invention is to improve the action of such door stop whereby they will one-rate more quietly and will effect a;

more easy closing action of the door eliminating slamming and jar.

A further and important oloject of the invention is to provide an improved form of weight governor for door check and tightencr devices, and to provide an escapement mecln anism by which the action of such devices is regulated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of cushion stop with means for withdrawing such stop at the final closing movement of the door.

lVith the above primary and other incidental objects in view as willmore fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction and the parts and combinations thereof and'the mode of operation or their equivalent as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein is shown the preferred but obvious 1y not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention 1 is a perspective view of a door check and tightener device embodying the present governor and trailing cushion stop, applied to an ordinary screen door or the like. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the door check or tightener shown in its open position, prior to engagement with the door. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the device in its operated position. Fig. 4 is a 'detail sectional view. a do tail view of the pivotally mounted trailing cushion stop.

Like parts indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

The present invention is applied to a popular commercial type of door check and tightener, which forms no part of the present invention per se. Such commercial deviceconsists of a substantially U-shaped mounting or bracket 1 to be secured to the frame of the door. Pivotally mounted in the U shaped bracket 1 is a substantially fishay ed oscillator 2, having to and fro swinging movement about its pivotal connection 8. The 'device is mounted in such relation with the free margin of the swinging door 4 that one or the other of the arms of such C shaped oscillator projects within the path of movement of such door. A helical actuating spring 5 is connected to a supporting gear or lug 6 upon the bracket or mounting 1 at one end, and engages a stud or pin 7 upon the oscillator 2 at its opposite end. In its to and fro movement, the oscillator 2 passes beyond dead center relation of the spring connection 6, and its pivotal center 3. Thus the reaction of the spring 5 actuates the oscillator 2 in either direction from such dead center position and holds the oscillator at the limit of its stroke. As the swinging door 4 approaches closed position it en gages the inner end 8 of the oscillator 2 which projects into the path of movement of the door. By its impact it oscillates a member 2 against the tension of the spring 5 past dead center position whereupon the reaction of the spring continues such oscillatory movement thereby withdrawing the engaged end 8 of the oscillator out of the path of the door, and projecting the opposite end 9 of such C-shaped oscillator forcibly against the outer side of the door 1 to exert sufiicient pressure thereon to insure its linal closing movement. The ends 8 and 9 of the oscillator 2 are preferably provided with rubber cushion contact 8 and 9 which have been shown of cylindrical form. Such is the construction and operation of the commercial device which as before stated forms no part of the present invention, but which has been improved by automatic control means to prevent violent action and to minimize noise.

To this end, an arm 10 has been provided upon the bracket or mounting to which is pivoted at 11 an oscillatory weight arm 12 having at its extremity the governor weight 13. Mounted concentric with the axis of oscillation of the oscillator 2 and connected therewith for unison movement, is a gear segment 14 meshing with a gear pinion 15 pivoted upon the supporting arm 10. Fixedly connected with the pinion 15 for unison movement therewith is a notched escape wheel 16. The extremity of the governor weight arm 12 is bifurcated and the part1 tions are beveled to form pallets having alternate engagement within the notches of the escape wheel 16. As the C-sh aped oscillator2nioves to and fro about its pivotal connection, it carries with it a gear sector 14, which meshing with the pinion 15 transmits oscillatory movement to the escape wheel 16. inasmuch as this wheel can move only as the pallet 17 of the governor 12 is cammed out of the path of travel, and since the governor arm 12 must be swung first in one direction and then in the other to alternately release the pallets 17 from the escape wheel, the movement of the oscillator 2 is correspondingly retarded. The parts are so proportioned and the range of movement so limited, that the escape wheel 16 does not make more than a partial revolution. Consequently the teeth or notches for the engagement of the pallet 17 are limited to a segment only of such member and such toothed or notched portion passes beyond the engaging pallets 17 at the opposite limits of its stroke. This leaves the overnor arm free and permits the initial movement of the oscillator 2 in either direction to be effected independent'of the governor mechanism. Thus the governor does not impose any additional resistance to be overcome by the impact or pressure of the door. However, as the door sets the oscillator 2 in operation, the governor means immediately becomes effective to regulate and retard its motion.

In the ordinary operation a stop or bumper 8 has been withdrawn entirely from the path of movement of the door and out of engagement therewith before the opposite end of the oscillator 2 engages the outer side of the door to give it a final closing impulse. This results in a noisy slamming engagement of the door with its frame. Means is provided for maintaining a cushion bumper in advance of the door until the door almost reaches its home position. The ordinary construction and relative mounting of the device is such that the inner end 8 of the oscillator 2 just clears the surface of the door frame. That is to say, the path of swinging movement of the stop bumper 8 is substantially tangent to the face of the door frame. For this reason any extension of the oscillator or different placement of the bumper 8 would cause interference. In the present instance there is provided a pivotally mounted extension which is drawn laterally in a substantially straight path out of the path of movement of the door after the stop bumper 8' has been moved therebeyond. Pivotally mounted upon the end of the oscillator 2 and con centric with the stop bumper 8, is a bifurcated carrier 18 in which is mounted in spaced relation with the bumper 8, a second cushion bumper 19 of rubber, and preferably though not necessarily, of somewhat smaller diameter than that of the main bumper 8. This pivoted carrier 18is provided with stop shoulders 20 having engagement with the oscillator 2 adjacent to its end 8 to limit the pivotal movement of such extension in one direction while permitting free swinging movement in the opposite direction. Such pivotal movement of the extension 18 is effected against the influence of a retracted spring 21. In the drawing the retracted spring 21 has been shown as a pair of substantially L-shaped wires secured upon the spring stud 7 and engaging with the pivotally mounted extension 18 in offset for eccentric relation with its pivotal connection.

[is before described, the door 4 in its closing movement engages the rubber bumper 8 and thereby oscillates the member 2 against the tension of the spring 5 untilthe oscillator 2 passes dead center relation. Therefrom the reaction of the spring 5 continues the movement of the oscillator withdrawing the stop bumper 8 beyond the range of movement of the door. However, in the present instance, the bumper extension 18* still remains in the path of the door and is gradually withdrawn therefrom in a substantially straight line parallel with the face of the door frame during the continued retarded movement of the oscillator 2 under the influence of the spring 5 and regulatory control of the governor weight. A flexing movement of the bumper extension permits its retraction in a path substantially parallel with the face of the door frame as the oscillator 2 completes its stroke. The door 4: when it is disengaged from the upper 8 falls upon the auxiliary bumper 19 carried by the extension 18 which resists the pressure of the door due to the interlocking of the shoulders 20 with the oscillator 2. However, as the oscillator continues to move the extension is flexed about its pivotal connection against the tension of the retracting spring 21 by its engagement with the side of the door frame. At the moment of final disengagement of the auxiliary bumper 19 from the door 4, the latter has but a very limited distance to move to its final home position under the pressing influence of the bumper 9.

Upon the opening of the door, the door pressure against the bumper 9 oscillatesthe member 2 in the opposite direction against the tension of the spring 5 setting the device for a succeeding tightening and checking op eration.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect and the invention is, therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a door check and tightener wherein a spring actuated oscillatory member is en'- gaged by the door during its closing move ment and oscillated beyond a dead center relation relative to its actuating spring, whereupon the spring actuates said member through an additional movement to insure final closing movement of the door, an oscillatory governor weight and an escapement mechanism operated by the movement of said member controlling the oscillation of the governor weight to regulate the movement of the member under influence of its spring.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a movable stop member engaged by the door in its swinging movement, of an automatic governor therefor including an escapement mechanism and oscillatory weight controlled by the escapement.

8. In a. device of the character described, the combination with an oscillatory stop member projecting into the path of closing movement of a door, and engaged thereby, of an extension pivotally connected with said oscillatory stop member also projecting into the path of movement of the door and withdrawn therefrom subsequent to the withdrawal of the oscillatory stop.

l. In a device of the character described, an oscillatory arm, an actuating spring therefor, and a governor including a weight arm mounted for to and fro motion, said arm'being bifurcated, and an escape wheel movable with. said oscillatory arm with which the furcations of the weighted arm alternately engage to retard the movement of said oscillatory arm.

5. The combination with av movable door step engaged by the door in its closing move ment and automatically withdrawn from the path of the door, of speed regulating means therefor operative to retard the withdrawal movement of the stop.

6. The combination with a movable door step engaged by the door in its closing movement, and automatically withdrawn from the path of the door, of a speed regulating means therefor, said speed regulating means being disengaged at the limit of the stroke of said stop whereby the stop moves initially independent of the speed regulating means and means for effecting the operative engagement of said speed regulating means during the movement of the stop but subsequent to the initiation of such movei'nent.

7. The combination with a movable door step engaged by a door in its ch :ing movement and subsequently automatically withdrawn from the path of the door, of governor means therefor including an escapement mechanism, said escapement iii-echanism beinginitially inoperative and means setting the escapeinent in operation to regal the speed of withdrawal of the stop by the initial movement of said stop.

8. The combination with a movable door stop engaged by the door in its closing movement and subsequently automatically from engagement with the door, of speed regulating means therefor initially inoperative whereby the stop is permitted an initial movement independent of the stop, and means for setting the speed regulating means into operation by the initial movement of the stop.

9. The combination with a movable door stop engaged by the door in its closing movement and subsequently automatically withdrawn from engagement with the door, of speed regulating means therefor including an oscillatory weighted governor arm, pallets carried by the arm, an escape wheel engaged by the pallets and transmitting to the weighted arm a to and fro oscillatory motion during the movement of the escape wheel and an operative driving connection between the movable stop and escape wheel.

10. The combination with a movable door stop engaged by a door during its closing movement and subsequently automatically withdrawn from engagement with the door, of speed regulating means therefor including an oscillatory weighted arm, pallets carried by the arm, a segmental escape wheel engaged by the pallets and transmitting to the weighted arm a to and fro oscillatory motion during the movement of the escape segment, the escape segment being proportioned to move beyond the pallets at the limit of its range of movement whereby the weighted governor arm is temporarily released, and an operative connection between the escape segment and the movable stop by which the escape segment is moved into operative engagement with the weighted arm by the initial movement of the stop.

11. The combination with a movable door stop engaged by the door in its closing move ment of a flexibly connected extension upon the movable stop and a bumper member carried by the extension remaining in the path of the door after the withdrawal of the movable stop therefrom and subsequently withdrawn by the further movement of the stop.

12. The combination, with an oscillatory arm adapted to project into the path of closing movement of a door, and a pivotally connected extension carried by the oscillatory arm normally projecting into the path of the door beyond the end of the arm and withdrawn therefrom by the oscillatory movement thereof upon engagement of the door therewith.

18. In a construction of the character described, a primary door bumper and a secondary door bumper interconnected for unison movement, and an actuating spring tripped by the engagement of the door with the primary bumper for successively withdrawing the bumpers, the door having temporary engagement with the secondary bumper after the withdrawal of the primary bumper.

14. In a construction of the character described, a pair of interconnected oscillatory arms, means for limiting the relative flexing movement of the arms in one direction, bumpers carried by the respective arms and successively engaged by a door in its closing movement, and retracting means set in operation by the engagement of the door with the first bumper for moving the arms to successively withdraw the bumpers from engagement with the door.

15. The combination with a spring actuated door closing means of a vibratory speed governor regulating means therefor and an escapement mechanism controlled by the vibratory governor and operated to retard the action of the door closing means.

16. The combination with an actuator member for a door operative to effect the closure of the door, of speed regulating means therefor, said speed regulating means being disengaged at the limit of the stroke of the actuator whereby the actuator initially moves independently of the speed regulating means, and means for effecting the operative engagement of the speed regulating means during the movement of the actuator but subsequent to the initiation of such movement.

17. The, combination with an actuator member for a door, operative to effect the closure of the door, of governor means therefor including an escapement mechanism, said escapement mechanism being initially inoperative and means for operatively connecting the escapement mechanism to regulate the speed of the door actuator by the initial movement of the actuator.

18. The combination with an actuator for a door operative to effect the closure of the door, of speed regulating means therefor initially inoperative whereby the actuator is permitted an initial movement independent of the regulating means, and means for setting the speed regulating means in operation by the initial movement of the actuator.

19. The combination with a door actuator operative to effect the closure of the door, of speed regulating means therefor including an oscillatory weighted governor arm, pallets carried by the arm, an escape wheel engaged by the pallets and transmitting to the weight arm a to and fro oscillatory motion during the movement of the escape wheel and an op erative driving connection between the actuator and the escape wheel.

20. The combination with a door actuator operative to effect the closing movement of the door, of speed regulating means therefor including an oscillatory weighted arm, pallets carried by the arm, a segmental escape wheel engaged by the pallets, and transmit- 

